Interactive Elements: Inspiring the Future of Email Marketing

Written by: Chris Donald

Published on: 05-09-2017

Chris is Managing Partner at InboxArmy and has more than 25 years of experience in email marketing

It’s human nature to love interaction that inspires purpose and creativity.

As opposed to plain PowerPoint slides, we embrace visually rich presentations more. This same idea holds true in the world of email marketing. That’s why email marketers and their email marketing templates have transcended to a world of interactivity in email.

Why Add Interactivity in Emails?

Interactivity can transform your emails and take user engagement to a whole new level. Instead of simple emails, these “mailable microsites” can be a magic wand that delight your customers and bring you great returns.

Here’s why you should try your hand at interactive emails:

1. Grab subscriber attention

Interactive elements like GIFs can instantly catch subscribers’ attention and get them hooked into your email for a few more seconds—precious eyeball time for any marketer!

2. Boost click-through rates and email conversions

Interactivity arouses curiosity in the subscribers’ minds and better tempts them to click through your email, thereby driving more email conversions.

3. Enhance user experience

Interactive elements like dropdown and accordions help subscribers find all the relevant information inside the inbox without the need to go to the browser.

4. Enable optimal use of space

Displaying multiple products through GIFs, accordions, and dropdowns lets email marketers convey sizeable content in limited space. As a result, consuming information becomes all the more effortless for the subscriber.

How Can I Add Interactivity?

Let’s talk about the most loved interactive elements of the present times.

1. Animated GIF

Animated GIFs add a bit of fun and thrill to your emails. You can experiment with types of animations that make your call to action more interesting.

USE CASE: GIFs can be especially effective when used by retailers and ecommerce marketers for engagement.

2. Accordion

The Accordion feature allows you to stack a great of content in a small amount of space, allowing your subscribers to click into the content they want to view. (It’s very similar to that of a mobile version of a website, after all). You can organize your content into these sections and allow the accordion to deliver it. A nice benefit of this feature is that you’ll have the ability to track the sections that receive the most clicks, giving you further data on what content your subscribers are looking for.

USE CASE: Retailers who feature multiple categories of products can use accordions to allow customers to find the specific categories they’re looking for. Media and technology companies can also use the accordion to display content according to the desired genre or field.

3. Dropdown

Similar to an accordion, the Dropdown enables easy navigation for your subscribers across various products or services. Email marketers from various industries can show tabbed information through dropdowns.

4. Slider

Slider is a unique interactive element that allows you to display multiple products all at once. A common element on websites and blogs, this feature has become an option in email templates.

USE CASE: Sliders make it easy for retailers, ecommerce marketers, banks, automobile companies, and travel websites to display their various offerings. The sliding element can keep the eye fixed on the email.

5. Countdown

Countdowns create a sense of urgency and hit on the “Fear of Missing Out”. It can effectively promote a discount offer available for a limited time, events or product launches covering several industries.

If you think adding these elements can enhance your email marketing campaign and give your brand an impressive personality, InboxArmy can help you out.

Check out InboxArmy samples and get in touch with us.

About Author

Chris sent his first email campaign in 1995. He’s worked directly with Fortune 500 companies, retail giants, nonprofits, SMBs and government agencies in all facets of their email marketing and marketing automation programs. He’s also a BIG baseball fan, loves a good steak, and is mildly obsessed with zombie movies. For more information follow him on linkedin

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